I have a very smooth experience with the focus wheel of my Nikon Monarch HG 8x30, and many others have the same experience! And about that rubberized focus wheel, I consider it an advantage over a metal wheel one. Most alpha binoculars, if not all, have a rubberized focus wheel that is pleasant to the touch.
Everyone has their expectations and claims, but I am completely satisfied with Monarch HG 8x30 construction. I really like its classic look, but also the optics and mechanics! I even think that, with this superb Monarch HG, Nikon occupies a unique place in the binoculars market, shared only with Leica binoculars. Instead of looking like many other binoculars, it has a luxurious finish and we can feel this in our hands. From my point of view, the concept of this binocular is welcome in the world of common binoculars with boring utilitarian design. This Monarch HG, it's like a classic Porsche. Monarch HG is a very successful design object besides the fact that it is also a good optical instrument!
The monarch:
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